

Quinn Morley
Collaborate • Design • Inspire • Repeat
About
I am a planetary science innovator with a focus on next-decade technologies. I mix a pretty ridiculous sense of creativity with a knack for technical writing and a strong aerospace fabrication background. This unique combo helped me become a NIAC Fellow twice as an undergraduate. I was also the first undergrad NIAC Principal Investigator.
TitanAir NIAC Phase I (FY 23) -- https://titanair.fyi/
• Flying lake lander (“laker”) for the exploration of Titan
• Ingest condensation and complex organic solutions through leading edge wing skin
• Coalesce and route fluid stream to science instruments with capillary features
• Examine shoreline materials with a wingtip-mounted drill
Borebots NIAC Phase II (FY 23, under consideration)
• This is a proposed two-year study to increase the TRL of key borebot technologies
• Includes low-WOB/low-heat-input drill development as suggested by the Decadal
• Examines potential Lunar PSR ISRU prospecting, and several other contexts
• Will change the perception in the community of what a drilling system should be
Borebots NIAC Phase I (FY 21) -- https://borebots.fyi/
• Invented drilling robots which use a track system to drive up and down the bore
• Showed that self-driving borebots are a feasible alternative to wireline systems
• Examined penetration into a Mars Special Region (subglacial lake; Mars SPLD)
• Extended our analysis to ultradeep ice drilling on Ocean Worlds
• First undergrad PI in the 10+ year NIAC program history
Experience
Principal Investigator
Planet Enterprises
June 2020 - Current
I invent, develop, and mature novel robotic space mission concepts. Creating new avenues for high-impact science return is my number one goal at Planet Enterprises. I work on every aspect of mission concepting, including: design, development, documentation, and prototype fabrication. Coordinate directly with NASA and potential mission customers early and often as part of our collaborative design approach.
Bluestreak Mechanic
Boeing Co.
Dec. 2016 - June 2020
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Designed and fabricated complex shop aid tooling in CATIA on a daily basis
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SME for hydropress forming simulation and verification using ESI PAMSTAMP
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SME Instructor for Layout and Lofting, from June 2016
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Boeing/IAM Apprenticeship Instructor for Compound Angles, from April 2018
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Curriculum Developer / Instructor for Additive Manufacturing, from May 2019
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Personally lead a project that reduced emergent hydroformed part flow from 20 days to 8 days
Fabricated parts and assemblies to support critical production and airline spares requirements, often with grounded aircraft standing by. This required development and fabrication of complex shop aid templates and tools, and included daily use of CATIA, advanced shop math, trigonometry, descriptive geometry (layout and lofting), geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), and computer aided design (CAD).
Bluestreak Apprentice
Boeing Co.
Jan. 2013 - Dec. 2016
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Became a SME instructor for Layout and Lofting while still an apprentice, after helping modernize the course prior to the first delivery in over 15 years.
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Worked one on one with master aerospace fabricators for 4 years / 8,000 hours
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Frequent use of CATIA and engineering drawings to extract information for production use: plotting complex layouts for lofted parts, flat pattern development, hydroblock and shop aid development.
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Demonstrated leadership qualities even as an apprentice, always assisting other team members in the development of their CATIA, CAD, lofting and print reading skills whenever possible.
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Performing layout using 5 axis CMM, Romer and Faro Arms, Laser Trackers, and surface table layout.
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Programming and machining of parts and shop aids on CNC 3 and 5 axis milling machines.
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Repair and rework of major components at a certified FAA repair station.
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Plating processing: setup, striking, plating and inspection of plated parts.
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Hand layup, tool prep, bagging and machining of composite components.
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Attended Boeing Trade Related Supplemental Instruction (RSI) classes after work, focusing on: Mathematics, including trigonometry, shop problems and compound angles; metallurgy, properties of materials and heat treat; shop safety and machine shop practices; precision measuring, Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and Composite Materials and Technology.
Education
Mechanical Engr.
WSU Bremerton
August 2020 - May 2023
Mechanical Engineering Bachelors of Science program at Washington State University's Bremerton Campus. More information about this program can be found at:
Associate in Science
Olympic College
Performed complex engineering analysis using Matlab and Wolfram Mathematica. Practiced Computer Aided Design and Simulation using Solidworks.
Sept. 2017 - June 2020
Associate in Arts
Olympic College
Electives included Discrete Mathematics, Advanced Differential Equations, Technical Writing, Manual Drafting, and Computer Aided Design.
Sept. 2015 - Aug 2017
Associate in Technical Arts, Welding Tech.
Olympic College
Sept. 2008 - Aug 2012
Precision layout and metal cutting, creating and interpreting engineering drawings, experience performing and inspecting welding operations on ferrous and non-ferrous metals (including Aluminum and Titanium). Studied metallurgy; heat treatment and stress relief procedures of steel, aluminum and titanium alloys; micrograph inspection; and non-destructive testing. Honors graduate, Dean's list.
